Pre-Purchase Home Inspections

A pre-purchase home inspection is a visual examination of the readily accessible features of the property and reflects the condition of the home on the day of the inspection.

Our goal is always to inform and educate you about the important decision you are about to make, with clients invited and welcome to attend any house inspection, allowing you to ask as many questions as you like! A pre-purchase onsite inspection is typically two to three hours in length, which includes a detailed examination of the home and property – right down to the landscaping of the yard. If there is a crawlspace, Ryan does his best to get in to have a good look at what is happening beneath the home. He also has much experience in rural properties, century homes, as well as condos and townhouses. Please see below for more detail regarding the components that will be inspected.

Your fully documented electronic report – complete with embedded photos – is available within 24 hours of the home inspection (often much sooner). All identified defects (along with the implications) will be recorded in the home inspection report, which also contains much information for future reference – being especially informative for first-time homebuyers – with technical articles and additional info regarding maintenance. Questions that arise from your report can be answered during a follow-up phone call.

Our motto is, “Be aware before you buy!” We want you to make an informed decision – not one that is based solely on how the home makes you feel. There really is no negative side to having a pre-purchase home inspection, and it may actually save you money in the long run.

If the home you are purchasing has a wood-burning fireplace, stove, or furnace, you may require a WETT inspection to ensure that the unit is code compliant. Often when a house changes hands, your insurance company will insist upon a WETT inspection (see WETT Inspections) for verification of compliancy. As a Certified WETT Inspector (Site Basic Inspection), Ryan will examine the stove or fireplace and create a detailed report (photos included) to send to your insurance company. If done the same day and time as a home inspection, the WETT portion of the fee is reduced to less than half price. There are so many extra costs associated with buying a house, that Ryan is pleased to be able to offer this as a bonus and savings for his home inspection clients.

As a Registered Home Inspector (RHI) with the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) and the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI), Ryan adheres to the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics set out by these two government-sanctioned organizations that provide oversight of their members in the home inspection industry.

Every client will be provided with a home inspection report in electronic format, listing all identified defects in the various major components of the home and property. This includes:

• Roofing
  • Roof
  • Chimneys
  • Flashings
• Exterior
  • Walls
  • Foundation
  • Gutters (Eavestroughs) & Downspouts
  • Soffit & Fascia
  • Decks, Balconies, & Porches
  • Paths, Walkways, Steps & Stairs
  • Garages
  • Grading & Surface Drainage
  • Windows & Doors
  • Landscape Hazards – i.e. large trees too close to house
• Structure
  • Foundation
  • Beams, Posts, & Joists
  • Walls – Exterior & Interior
  • Floors
  • Roof & Trusses
  • Lintels
• Electrical System
  • Service Panels – type, service size & grounding
  • Type of Wiring
  • Service Entrances
  • Switches & Outlets – i.e. reverse polarity, grounding
  • GFCI’s & AFCI’s
  • Lights
• Heating
  • Fuel & Type
  • Flue Pipes & Vents
  • Fuel Tanks & Pipes
  • Air Supply, Filters, Ducts
  • Heat Recovery Ventilators
  • Electric Baseboards
  • Hot Water Radiant Heating
• Air Conditioning
  • AC Units – central
• Insulation & Ventilation
  • Attic
  • Walls
  • Basement
  • Crawlspace
  • Vapour Barriers
• Plumbing
  • Water Supply
  • Supply Pipes – type
  • Well Pump & Pressure Tank
  • Sump Pump & Floor Drain
  • Shut-off Valve
  • Water Pressure – checks re sinks, showers, tubs, taps, toilets, etc.
  • Waste Pipes
  • Water Heater
  • Exterior Faucets
• Interior
  • Floors & Floor Coverings
  • Walls & Wall Finishes
  • Ceiling & Ceiling Finishes
  • Trim
  • Stairs & Handrails/Railings
  • Windows & Doors
  • Skylights
  • Wood Fireplaces, Wood Stoves, Corn/Pellet Stoves
  • Gas Fireplaces
  • Countertops & Cabinets
  • Exhaust Fans & Ducts
  • Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors & Alarms
  • Evidence of Possible Mould Growth